America is NOT (and Never WAS) a Christian Nation, and I'm Tired of Having Other People's Religious Values Forced Upon Me

A growing number of Americans are fighting back against the erosion of religious freedom and the imposition of so-called "Christian values" on diverse beliefs and identities.

As Christian nationalists intensify their war on non-believers, a growing number of Americans are fighting back against the erosion of religious freedom and the imposition of so-called "Christian values" on diverse beliefs and identities.

CONTENT WARNING: DISCUSSIONS OF CHRISTIANITY & RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE

Disturbing black and white image of Jesus on the cross.

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Christianity is our country's dominant religion - one that is still forced on many people against their will to this very day.

I've had people tell me I "shouldn't talk badly about Christianity because I'm not a Christian."

I'm technically an ex-Christian because I was raised in The Church (despite always being a non-believer). However, since Christianity was forced upon me at a young age and presented as the only option I had growing up (other than hell), I feel entitled (obligated) to speak up about the harm and dangers that can result from having one's choice to worship (or not worship) be taken away from them.

Growing up in a state run by Christians, Christianity was hard to escape.

I grew up in Texas, a bible belt state, and while I was not raised in a Fundamentalist Christian Family, many of the kids around me were. Their parents did what they could to shelter these poor kids (and everyone else's kids) from the "evils of the world" (like Halloween, fantasy books, and celebratory events that were not religious in nature).

If I wanted to socialize and have friends growing up, I had to attend Church (because most kids were forced to spend their Sundays and sometimes even Saturday nights). If you spoke against The Church or expressed doubts, people's parents wouldn't let their kids spend time with you, worried you'd be a bad influence, so people like me (who had doubts) quickly learned never to speak them out loud.

Now that I'm an adult, I am no longer afraid to share my critiques of The Church.

A pale hand hods up a megaphone in front of an American flag.

America is not (and never was) a Christian nation.

It's important to recognize and respect the diversity of beliefs in the country.

The US Constitution enshrines the principle of separation of Church and state through the Establishment Clause (First Amendment). This clause prohibits the United States government from officially establishing a national religion (or favoring one religion over another).

By separating Church and state, the Constitution promotes religious pluralism and prevents the dominance of a single faith. It is supposed to ensure that the government remains neutral on religious matters, safeguarding individual freedom of conscience and belief.

A shift towards secularism is reshaping America's culture.

According to a 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated, or "nones," making them the second largest religious (or NON-religious) demographic in the country (after Christians, which make up 63% of the US population according to the same survey). This trend (of being non-religious) is most noticeable among younger generations, with 35% of Millennials (born 1981-1996) and 48% of Gen Z adults (born 1997-2012) identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

Christians, as a majority, have held a lot of power in this country for many years, influencing and ruling over many aspects of society. However, it seems like this power may finally be diminishing, leading those in power to "fight back" (in a final desperate attempt to maintain their remaining power and influence).

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A us solder holds up a bible standing up in front of an American flag.

The Rise of Christian Nationalism

Christianity wouldn't be so bad if Christians didn't try to force their beliefs on everyone. However, many people who call themselves Christians often feel they need to "spread the gospel" and their "Christian values" to unsuspecting victims who never asked to be saved.

Examples of Christian Dominance in American Society

Christian values and practices are often assumed to be the norm in American society, leading to a dominant cultural narrative that marginalizes those with different beliefs.

For instance, the widespread use of Christian holidays and symbols in public spaces can make non-Christians feel excluded, and laws like the "In God We Trust" legislation in Arkansas, which forces businesses to display the phrase, perpetuate this dominance.

Similarly, efforts to restrict access to abortion and reproductive healthcare, rooted in Christian doctrine, disregard the beliefs and values of those who do not share these views.

Two cutout images of hands (in black and white) facing each other around the word “no” on a blue background.

Help Nobody Wants (Or Asked For)

Imagine you're going for a swim, something you're good at and don't need help with, but someone watching you swim decides that you "need to be saved" and, despite your objections, pulls you out of the pool, "saving you" without your consent every time you try to swim.

You would be annoyed, wouldn't you?

That's how I feel about Christians who do missionary work and are intent on saving me when I've NEVER asked to be saved. I don't understand why they can't worry about themselves and their own behavior, leaving the rest of us alone and stopping trying to force their religion (and "appropriate behaviors" based on their religion which I don't follow) on us.

I've spoken about Christian Nationalism's ties to ABA in the past. I've also spoken about how childhood religious indoctrination is running rampant in this country more recently.

ABA (also known as Autistic Conversion Therapy or Applied Behavioral Analysis) is a behavioral modification program that is frequently used on Autistic, ADHD, and other NeuroDivergent Children as a way to "normalize" our "behaviors" so that we can better "fit into society" (instead of re-arranging society and the spaces around us to better suit our needs, ABA puts pressure on the NeuroDivergent Person to change themselves to suite the world around them).

More info on ABA is here in my ABA Master Post.

The Church has known for a long time it is easier to indoctrinate young children and advises parents to use similar methods on any child that has "behavioral challenges." It even gives information on how parents can start with this brainwashing at home (when kids are more easily manipulated and coerced).

"Little children don't come into the world with fully formed, independent thoughts of their own about God, nor do they have the wisdom, experience, or intellectual capacity to "make up their own minds" about the deeper questions of human existence. In the spiritual realm, as in every other area of life, they are utterly dependent on you to feed them, nurture them, and point them in the right direction. If you don't, somebody else will.

What makes this assignment all the more urgent is that you have a fairly narrow window of time in which to carry it out with maximum effect. There's a brief period during childhood when kids are wide open to spiritual and moral training..." - from Focus on the Family on the Religious Indoctrination of Children

They even offer a phone number at the bottom for guardians who need help implementing these principles.

There's Nothing 'Christian' about Christian Nationalism

I was raised in the Church and know the bible and the values Jesus taught.

Jesus flipped over tables and spent his time with poor people (and people the Church deemed to be sinners) instead of rich people (and people who claimed themselves to be holy). He wouldn't be on board with what the Christian nationalists are proposing.

Christian nationalism focuses on power, dominance, and exclusion, which go against the teachings of Jesus (who preached love, humility, and inclusivity).

The Nationalist's ideology's reliance on fear, hatred, and division also contradicts the values of compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation taught by Jesus - who they are supposed to follow. You can see these values (or lack thereof) in the ways these nationalists recommend parents handle their most vulnerable members of society (children) and how these nationalists speak about people they deem to be "sinners."

By prioritizing political power over spiritual principles, Christian nationalism distorts the gospel and perpetuates harm, making it fundamentally unchristian.

I saw a meme this week that said, "If Project 2025 isn't keeping you up at night, it should be." I've definitely lost sleep over it in recent months.  

These nationalists are being told "they are under attack" and they "must fight" to "preserve this country's Christian values," and many believe that Project 2025 is something that will help secure their place as the rightful "leaders" of this country.  

Screenshot from the Project2025 home page.

What IS Project 2025?

Christian nationalists are trying to influence laws and policies in a way that could harm religious freedom (including freedom from religion) and equality.

Saying they want to give Christianity special treatment is a massive understatement because, if enacted, Project 2025 could destroy the rights of religious minorities, non-believers, and other marginalized communities.  

Project 2025 reflects the harmful ideology of Manifest Destiny, which justified the displacement and genocide of the Native Peoples on this continent and the theft of their lands.

Both ideologies perpetuate a divine right to dominance, seeking to impose a specific belief system and culture on others, disregarding the sovereignty and humanity of those who do not conform. This parallel highlights the dangerous and violent implications of Project 2025's Christian nationalist vision.

Basically, Project 2025 is a Christian nationalist initiative aiming to restore America's "Judeo-Christian heritage." This initiative poses a significant threat to non-Christians, Queer, and other marginalized individuals. By seeking to impose a particular brand of Christianity that aims to:

• Erase religious diversity and marginalized spiritualities

• Restrict reproductive rights and access to healthcare

• Criminalize Queer identities and relationships

• Enforce cisgender heteronormativity

• Suppress free speech and dissenting voices

This Project's vision of a "Christian nation" is inherently exclusionary, seeking to marginalize and oppress already vulnerable populations, undermining the principles of equality, justice, and human rights.

More info is available here and on the official Project2025 website, which I won't link to my site but can be found easily via Google (because they're not hiding their plans).

As a Queer person in this country, I'm deeply worried about the direction this country seems to be headed.

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